It’s kinda sad to think that there’s at least one entire generation of people who have no first hand recollection of LL Cool J as one of the best rappers on the planet. (Now he’s just some Botox-ed out looking older dude on TV who makes everyone feel embarrassed when he raps terms like “ratchet.” But we digress…) DJ Step One does the world a great service by unearthing some rare vintage LL audio circa Mama Said Knock You Out just to remind everyone how nice the pride of Farmers Blvd. once was.

It’s L recorded live at Chuck Chillout’s birthday party in 1990 at The Tunnel (we think, anyways, since during the intro L says, “The Tunnel’s gonna be a peep hole when we finish”). And yes, you can tell he’s got a healthy sized chip on his shoulder from being dismissed by many fans – and some rapping colleagues – as a shallow, materialistic bum in the wake of Walking With a Panther. His rendition of the Ice-T/Moe Dee/Hammer directed “To Da Break of Dawn” over Keni Burke’s “Risin’ to the Top” is classic (different lyrics on Hammer diss: “Because Sammy Davis Jr. ain’t supposed to rap”). Apparently previously unheard, however, is an “Amen Brother”-fueled cut entitled “She’s Rockin’” which for whatever reason never saw the light of day. Props to Step One for sharing. Listen below. Download at Only Built 4 ZShare Links.

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